As David flees from Jerusalem, as Absalom unjustly usurps the throne, we see example after example of the king's humility. As in previous chapters, David in Chapter 16 does not exhibit rage and virulence. He proceeds in his exile with a self-inflicted lowliness. He walks in the desert with his faithful servants. He acknowledges his sins and the fact that his current suffering is due to his past iniquities. At one point, someone named Shimei, who we learn comes from Saul's house, approaches David and begins cursing him. He also hurls stones at David. These are powerfully insulting actions! Most people would respond with indignation, maybe even with violence against their aggressor. And David's followers are ready to defend their king against this blatantly disrespectful person. But David does none of this. He accepts the insults, he allows Shimei to continue with his cursing. David simply and meekly takes it. In 2 Samuel 16:10 David says, "let him alone, and let him curse: for the Lord hath bid him curse David." And then in Chapter 12 he says, "Perhaps the Lord may look upon my affliction, and the Lord may render me good for the cursing of this day" (2 Samuel 16:12). This statement that the acceptance of insults and attacks can be itself a virtuous act is a powerful lesson in Scripture. It goes against our natural tendency to pridefully defend our own honor, but like so many virtues it requires the death of our natural (i.e., sinful) tendencies in order to behave in a supernatural way. David describes Shimei's curses as an affliction. David sees the occasion as a moment of suffering permitted by God as punishment for his past sins. And therefore David does not dare put an end to Shimei's attacks, for if they are sent by God ultimately, David determines, who is he to lash out and retaliate against Shimei? This is yet another example of David's Christ-like behavior we see so often in these chapters of Scripture. Christ was insulted, cursed, and violently attacked, and yet He accepted it all. The King of the Universe, who had every right to respond with indignation, is a figure of meekness and humility in the face of vicious attacks upon His Person. And in David we see a glimpse, a foreshadow, of that same virtuous meekness here in his response to Shimei.
